Topic: is is worth it to treat 83 year old with lyme?
randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i am positive that my mother has lyme. she has tons of petechiae (some very, very large), she mixes up words something awful (constantly calling all her children by each other's name, etc.), has severe bowel incontinence, joint and muscle pain, arthritis, has cysts on face, never sleeps, and the list goes on.
she has never been tested and the family won't get her tested.
i would love to get her to try an herbal protocol or something. i certainly don't want to give her any medication without her consent or knowledge. can you imagine if she reacted violently to it?
knowing her, she wouldn't take the treatment anyway and my sisters would pitch a holy fit. they don't believe in lyme. remember, i'm the "hypochrondriac" of the family.
the family just says, "oh she's old, leave her alone". but i hate to see her suffering.
what would you do?
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
Hi Randibear, One question, how does your Mom feel about it?
-------------------- May we all find peace one day and may peace prevail on earth ~ Traveler Posts: 66 | From traveling the U.S. | Registered: Aug 2007
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Maybe this is one of those cases where treating the symptoms may be the best thing to do rather than attempting to cure the disease.
Both of my parents died young; however, my wife's mom and dad are still with us (she's 78 & he's 86).
My father-in-law was diagnosed with Leukemia last year and was initially prescribed chemotherapy.
The chemo treatments made him so sick that he almost died. He switched oncologists and was taken off the chemo.
He's doing remarkably well. It was almost as if the cure was worse than the disease.
It seems to me that treating Lyme at that age, what with the herx reactions and the type of pain that would bring, it might be sensible to treat the current joint pain, bowel problems, etc with pain relief medicines, etc.
I'm not a doctor or anything, but it seems to me that providing our parents with a higher quality of life is probably what we owe them.
I wish you the best of luck.
Posts: 681 | From California | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
I didn't feel my own mother could handle the treatment, the herxes, the pain etc. She was already in assisted living when I found out I had lyme and that she most assuredly did also.
I knew I was feeling horrible during treatment and couldn't imagine her symptoms being worse than they already were. Why make her last days even worse?
The only thing that would be different in your mother's case would be the bowel incontinence. I'm sure she'd be more comfortable if that would get better!
Tough decision!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
If she is cognizant enough to understand, I would talk to her about the possibility of Lyme. I would explain what treatment means, and that it might be very hard, especially at her age.
If she is not cognizant, then all you can do is provide information to your husband and his family and let them decide. If they don't want to consider the possibility, there really isn't anything you can do.
I believe a friend's mother has Lyme. Her mother has been living for many years with a fibromyalgia diagnosis and is having memory and confusion problems. She lived in an endemic area when she became sick.
I am providing my friend with information on it, and ending it there. It is her choice whether or not to share the information with her mother.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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just don
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1129
posted
Randi, Are you talking about MY dad??
Cept he is 85. I told him once,,you sure have alot of sxs. Reply,,"Nope,,cant have that,,my doctor didnt tell me I have that!!" "IF I go to the doctor,,,doctors know everything"
The elderly had blind faith in docs,its ALL they had, and were thankful for that, back in the day!!
He doesnt take his present meds very well,,,takes them when something hurts,,doesnt when it quits.
Starts and stops on his own,not as directed. Dont think that would work with treatment,,,AND if it made him feel worse,,,no way he would take it!!
Doc even told him to eat yogurt type stuff for the good bugs,,,wouldnt do it, IF he likes it scoops by handfuls,if he doesnt he passes.
There are more things in this avenue,,,but lets just say I elect to just end here.still--just don--
-------------------- just don Posts: 4548 | From Middle of midwest | Registered: May 2001
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posted
This thread shows how horrible the treatment process is for lymies. Not only do we not wish the disease on anyone, we don't wish the treatment on them either!
My father has lung cancer that has spread to the brain. He is very happily following his oncologist's protocol of radiation and chemo. Not my cup of tea but suggesting something more alternative would just upset him. So, I leave him alone.
You can mention the possibility of treatment to them and let them decide. If they don't want it, you know you gave them an option and they were within their rights to refuse it.
Posts: 984 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2006
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
My 85-year-old father, who was bitten four years after me, did go into treatment quickly because I recognized the rashes (despite the doctors refusing to believe him, or me the chronic Lymie). He was deteriorating so quickly, we had to treat. Prior to that, he was healthy, and had been the healthiest one in the family.
He recently relapsed and is back on antibiotics, yet we must be very conservative because of pre-existing kidney issues and his age.
My mother has chosen not to treat. We believe she has been chronic for years, but just got her IGeneX results. She really couldn't handle even low-dose antibiotics. She would prefer to live out her life in current state of pain, unless things get dramatically worse.
Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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Jill...That was the difference with my mom. She'd had Lyme and Babesia for as long as I had.... 42+ years by the time I was dxd.
A recent case would have more hope and less agony....I think!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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bejoy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11129
posted
I'm developing the impression that most human beings die from complications of some combination of stealth bacteria and mycoplasma.
When you look at the symptoms of getting old, and the symptoms of what we lymies deal with, the lists are remarkable similar. Once the l-forms pervade the body, all the organs and systems start to go haywire.
In the long run I have the feeling that we lymies are lucky because we are learning a bit younger how to defy one of the major causes of ageing. Wishful thinking perhaps, but I have to hang on to something.
I think that you treat elderly people with lyme to the degree that they were health-oriented people when they were younger.
Lots of younger folks we know have lyme, but they'd rather stick with irritable bowel, chronic fatigue, or even MS than try a new diagnosis and treatment.
Does your mother have the outlook on life that she wants to live longer and be healthy, or would she rather pop some pills for the symmptoms, and be resigned to problems for the few years she has left? I think either choice is valid.
My mom is 70, is fully aware of lyme disease, was treated twice for EM, but doesn't know she still has lyme. She is a very active person who runs her own business, but is frustrated by her neural symptoms and arthritis.
But alas, mom has no adequate insurance like me. As soon as I am clear enough to monitor, I'm going to help her get on a gentle alternative regimen.
She has seen my improvement, and is likely to be willing to try it herself. It also doesn't hurt that one of her friends reads the oracle of lymenet, and might be willing to pass on bejoy's sage and sound advice.
It may be eaiser to hear it from the wisdom of the oracle, than from your 12 year old (I mean 42 year old) daughter.
Good luck with your mom.
-------------------- bejoy!
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Posts: 1918 | From Alive and Well! | Registered: Feb 2007
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